"I've lived with them now for 13 years and they don't bother me. I tell my daughter, don't worry, it's just a possum again.

"At 3am when they're bouncing around on the back deck it can keep us awake but they're part of our life now.

"But they do leave droppings on my deck which can get a bit messy.

"I would never have them removed. We're used to them and this is their place."

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said possums were part of the urban environment but there were humane ways to move them on.

"There are simple steps that can be taken to reduce possum problems, including preventing access into the roof space by blocking off access points, providing an alternative home for the possum and installing a one-way flap at the possum's access point to the roof space."